Parachute



G. TRCAN PARACHUTE EDMn 29, 19211.`

Filed Nov. 27, 1929- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec.: 29, 1931,

UNITED STATES GABRIEL TRICAN, F ISSY-LES-MOULINEAUX, IFR-ANCE PARACHUTE Application iiled November 27, 1929, Serial 110.410,030, and in Belgium December '8, 1988.

The present invention relates to parachutes and, more particularly, to mechanism operative to assure proper opening thereof in use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a double opening 'mechanism com-I '.15 Further objects will appear in the course of the detailed description now to be 'ven in connection` with the accompanying rawings, in which:V v

Fig. 1 represents', in perspective, a paralehnte and its opening mechanism prior to reease;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of part ofthe hand` operated means for releasing the parachute;

Fig.` 3 shows the same hand-operated mechanism partially in section; A

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the complete handoperated mechanism, with the portion thereof represented in Figs. 2 and 3 shown in longitudinal section.

Referring to the various figures of the drawings, there is shown a parachute envelope a provided with -peripheral tabs a1 carrying rings b,-a cord c passing through rings b and maintaining the parachute in closed position,-a cable d carrying a ring d1 at one extremity attached to cord c and having its other extremity firmly attached to a-balloon, aeroplane or other aeronautical vessel or machine (not shown) ,-a hand operated assembly for cutting cord c comprising a frame fprovided with a handle fha Bowden Wire e anchored in frame f as shown in Fig. 4, a support g adapted to be attached permanently to the parachutists belt'and detachably engaging with frame f, a trigger assembly for releasing frame f from su port g consisting of a tri ger h moving against the action of a spring l and engaging at h2 with one arm of a pivoted catch ha bearing against a spring 50 11.*, a tubular casing i receiving the distal end of Bowden e and having openings 11 formed in the walls thereof, a knife i1 rigidly mounted in casing i, a rod j having one extremity connected to wire e and'having a split distal extremity traversed by transverse aligned 55 holes j", and spring c resist-ing downward movement of rod j,-and means for temporarily supporting the top of the parachute so as toassure its properopeningl consistin of a cord Z anchored at one end tothe top o the 60 parachute and havingits other end attached to ring` d1, and means associated with tubular casing i for cutting cord l.Z comv osed of a spring m positioned on theioutsi e of casing z' and terminating in a spherical element m1' 65 adapted'to resiliently maintain part of cord l in position in opening 0 (formed Vthrough the wall of casing z') in contact with a lateral groove jo formed adj alcent the free extremity t of rod y'. i l 70 v The hereinabove described assembly opera'tes as follows Assuming that the various operating elements are, in the position shown in Figs. 1,

2 and 4, i. e. cord c passing transversely 75.-

through openings jo and cord l engaging in lateral groove 7'9", and that the parachutist,

without touching the cutting or releasing mechanism, jumps into space, parachute a will move downward until cable d is extended 8 to a maximum; ring d1 will 'then snap cord c; the parachute will o en, cord .l attached to ring d1 snapping out rom under m, m1 and supporting the top of the parachute so as to `assure proper orientation of the latter; cord b in turn parts under the weight of the parachutist, and the parachute moves downward until it reaches the ground. But let it be supposed that cord c does not snap under the ull exerted by 'cable d, orthatby accident, 9 ina vertence, or mistake, cable d is not attached to the balloon or aeroplane, or that said cable is entirely omitted, or again that the balloon or aeroplane is dropping at the same or'a 4faster rate than the parachutist, it then becomes necessary to operate the assembly attached to the arachntists belt to cut cord c'and in the fol owing manner: The parachutist lpresses trigger h, liberating 10 `frame f from iixed supportg, and exerts a downward (and lateral) pull on cable e; rodA moving against the sction of spring ic,

.7 tiiereupon brings cords c and Z successively down onto imite l end severe both; the pars.-

chute then c ens as elready described and descends to t e ound.

Cord l should e suiiciently strong to pei'- orm its peiaehute suppmting function but still snap under the added pull oit the paracliutists Weight. bViQuSly, this cord and the structures for eectinvf its cutting may te mites, is assied, waiout assess am ,operativencss of the rest of the assemb y.

Wliet l claim is l. lin a parachute assembly, apar-achete,

a cord for maintaining said parachute in collapsed position, s suspending cable attached to said cord end operative to rupture the letter when a sucient pull is .exerted thereon, a ceid attached et opposite extremities to the suspending cable end tothe top of the parachute, and means operative to section each of 'the afonesaid coi-ds.

2. in a parachute assembly, a parachute, a cord for niaiiiteining said parachute in co1- lapsed position, a suspending cable attached to said cond and operative to rupture the latter when subjected 'to a suiicient pull, a cord attached eypesite extremities to said cable and the tep of the @smentite-and means oz: cutting each ezt the aforesaid cords comprising gripping means edepted to take held ci each ett seid coads, a lmiie, and means for moving gi'ipping; ineens and knife to werds one another.

3. lin e parachute assembly, a permettete, a cord toe maintaining seid parachute in coiispsed pesition, s, suspending cable attached to seid ccsd and e'H emtive to rupture the ist ter when subjected to a, snicient pull, a cord attached at opposite emremities to said cable and te the tcp et the @samenwer-end s holding element ineluding ineens :ter elessebly maintaining seid nemedeerd in positien` end means epeietive te seetion one ot seid cords. I v

lin testimony Wl'iereo affix my signature.

TRECAN. 

